Sun Microsystems V490 About Automatic System Recovery, Stop-F Functionality, Stop-N Functionality

Stop-F Functionality

The Stop-F functionality is not available in systems with USB keyboards. However, the RSC bootmode forth command provides similar functionality. For more information, see the Sun Remote System Control (RSC) 2.2 User’s Guide, which is included on the Sun Fire V490 Documentation CD.

Stop-N Functionality

The Stop-N sequence is a method of bypassing problems typically encountered on systems with misconfigured OpenBoot configuration variables. On systems with older keyboards, you did this by pressing the Stop-N sequence while powering on the system.

On systems with USB keyboards, like the Sun Fire V490, the implementation involves waiting for the system to reach a particular state. For instructions, see “How to Implement Stop-N Functionality” on page 164.

The drawback of using Stop-N on a Sun Fire V490 system is that, if diagnostics are enabled, it can take some time for the system to reach the desired state. Fortunately, an alternative exists: Place the system control switch in the Diagnostics position.

Placing the system control switch in Diagnostics position will override OpenBoot configuration variable settings, allowing the system to recover to the ok prompt and letting you correct misconfigured settings.

Assuming you have access to RSC software, another possibility is to use the RSC bootmode reset_nvram command, which provides similar functionality. For more information, see the Sun Remote System Control (RSC) 2.2 User’s Guide, which is included on the Sun Fire V490 Documentation CD.

About Automatic System Recovery

The Sun Fire V490 system provides a feature called automatic system recovery (ASR). To some, ASR implies an ability to shield the operating system in the event of a hardware failure, allowing the operating system to remain up and running. The implementation of ASR on the Sun Fire V490 server is different—it provides for automatic fault isolation and restoration of the operating system following non-fatal faults or failures of these hardware components:

■Processors

■Memory modules

■PCI buses and cards

Chapter 4 Network Interfaces and System Firmware 55